how long do you pray for people?

[Guest Jerry S.]

Well... there is some scripture about praying like the hypocrites and repeating over and over (I think)....

Hmm... I think you may be referring to the scripture that talks about how when hypocrites pray, it's just a vain repetition of words and not coming from the heart.

Matthew 6:7-8 (NIV)

7. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words.

8. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.

[georgedrw81]

... make you feel better too. There are actual studies that show people who pray are happier than those who don't and I must be one of the happiest people on the planet.

XXOO

Right

[Gentlewind]

Don't be burdened. Pray to the Lord as a friend. For He is your very best friend. He know our needs and the needs of others before we speak them, and the Spirit also intercedes. There is power in prayer, yes, but his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Pray as though speaking to a friend. He hears even the unspoken word.

~Gentlewind

[nebula]

No one mentioned the parable of the persistent widow.

Luke 18

1 Now He was telling them a parable to show that at all times they ought to pray and not to lose heart, 2 saying, "In a certain city there was a judge who did not fear God and did not respect man. 3 "There was a widow in that city, and she kept coming to him, saying, 'Give me legal protection from my opponent.' 4 "For a while he was unwilling ; but afterward he said to himself, 'Even though I do not fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow bothers me, I will give her legal protection, otherwise by continually coming she will wear me out.' " 6 And the Lord said, "Hear what the unrighteous judge said ; 7 now, will not God bring about justice for His elect who cry to Him day and night, and will He delay long over them? 8 "I tell you that He will bring about justice for them quickly. However, when the Son of Man comes, will He find faith on the earth ?"

[Isaiah 6:8]

I think pray for what the Lord burdens you with, and the things you want to see changed.

For instance, my wife, my family, my youth group, my town and my church are personal things that I pray for. Not so much that the Lord has been putting a burden on my heart for them as much as they are important to me and I want the Lord to impact various parts of all the above.

Then there are the ones that the Lord puts on your heart. Never give up. God may have sent an answer back already.

I once was on a prayer team that met once a week. Every week the Lord laid it on my heart to pray for three of the guys in my youth group. I did not even really like the guys but I prayed for them every week. Every week God told me to pray every week I did. I started to annoy the others in the group. I persisted until the group ended. The three guys had been I found out later doing drugs, dealing drugs, getting drunk etc. They all came back to the Lord and eventually went into ministry.

Its sort of like what happened in Daniel 10, don't give up as you are warring on the behalf of others.

Daniel 10:12 Then he said to me,

[EricH]

there are probably 2 different questions to be asked here. How long do I pray for people? Answer: Not long enough! How long should I pray for people? Answer: There is no limit

[MorningGlory]

Don't be burdened. Pray to the Lord as a friend. For He is your very best friend. He know our needs and the needs of others before we speak them, and the Spirit also intercedes. There is power in prayer, yes, but his yoke is easy and his burden is light. Pray as though speaking to a friend. He hears even the unspoken word.

~Gentlewind

He does; He knows our every thought and feeling.